East Perth has stormed back into finals contention courtesy of an emphatic 46-point win over arch rivals West Perth at Leederville Oval this afternoon.

A number of West Coast-listed players starred in the Royals’ fifth-straight win, arguably the club’s most rounded performance of season 2017.

East Perth co-captain Patrick McGinnity got the home side on the front foot in the fourth minute of the contest with an inspiring running goal from 30m and Will Maginness doubled the Royals’ lead with another true kick on the run one minute later.

The Falcons hit back with two goals in the eighth and 10^th minute of the opening term, but a bit of magic from Willie Rioli gifted the Royals an 11 point advantage ahead of the first change of ends

Rioli, who was playing his first league game in East Perth colours, intercepted a clearing handball in the right pocket, stepped inside a West Perth defender and coolly intersected the tall posts with a deft checkside kick.

Michael Lourey pegged a goal back for the visitors early in the second quarter, but three unanswered goals to Fraser McInnes, Daniel Venables and Luke Partington helped East Perth to a handy 25-pont lead at the main break.

However, the lead was somewhat soured by the loss of Rioli, who left the field late in the second term citing hamstring tightness.

The livewire small forward underwent a fitness test on the boundary during the break, but medical staff erred on the side of caution and ruled him out for the remainder of the match.

Fortunately, a host of Royals stepped up in Rioli’s absence and helped East Perth extend its lead in the third term.

Venbales kicked his second major of the game with a pure drop punt from 35m in the 16^th minutes, Malcolm Karpany goalled via a crafty left-foot snap in the 21^st minute and influential midfielder Jack Redden found the major opening after the siren sounded to give Luke Webster’s men a 43-point buffer with a quarter to play.

Redden extended the Royals’ lead to 49 points with a classy crumb and right-foot snap in the second minute of the final quarter and one last goal from inside midfielder Julian Amaduri capped off the 14.19 (103) to 7.15 (57) victory.

Redden finished the game with 29 disposals, seven tackles and five marks to go with his two goals, Partington amassed 22 touches and three goals and Venables kicked two goals from 14 disposals.

Chris Masten gatheed 28 touches on the wing, Fraser McInnes accumulated 20 disposals, five tackles and a goal and Kurt Mutimer got his hands on the ball 19 times.

East Perth’s defenders were superb. Tom Barrass (16 disposals, 10 marks) showed his class, as did dashing half-back Tom Cole (15 disposals), who opened up the game with his daring play, while Josh Rotham and Tom Gorter (14 disposals each) showed poise under pressure in the defensive 50m.

Malcolm Karpany had 15 disposals to go with his third-quarter goal, Scott Lycett (11 possessions, 16 hit outs) got through his return match unscathed and Tom Lamb (14 disposals) provided plenty of pressure in the attacking arc.